Means or machinery for clearing or excavating ditches



June 12, 1945.

D. R. BOMFORD I MEANS OR MACHINERY FOR CLEARING 0R EXCAVATING DITCHES Filed Nov. 9, 1942 3 Sheeis-Sheet 1 June 12, 1945.

D. R. BOMFORD MEANS 0R MACi-IINERY FOR CLEARING OR EXCAVATING DITCHES Filed Nov. 9, 1942 EJSheets-Sheet 2 1 wafer ATTORNEYS June 1945- D. R. BOMFORD 2,378,280

MEANS OR MACHINERY FOR CLEARING 0R EXCAVATING' BITCHES File'd Nov. 9, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented June 1 2, 1945 UNITED STATES S R MACHINERY FORCLEARING OR EXCAVATINGv DITCHES Douglas Raymond Bomford, B'evington Hall, near Evesham, England, assignor to Bomford & liivershed Limited, Salford Priors, near Evesham, England Application November 9, 1942, Serial No; 4 5,033

In Great Britain November 23, 1941- -6 Claims. (.01. 37-103) This invention relates to means or machinery for clearing or excavating ditches and consists of improvements in or modifications of the means or machinery tobe employed for-the said purpose described and claimed in United States Letters Patent'No. 2,314,763 granted March 23, 1943, the said means or machinery embodying a traversable standard, draw-bar mechanism associated therewith and mechanism-mounted on the standard and co-operating with the draw-bar mecham nism to effect a sequence of operations on a scoop or bucket provided in conjunction with the machine ior gathering and removing the refuse or material from the ditch whereon the-machine is designed to operate, the draw-bar mechanism incorporating a longitudinally reciprocable member adapted for connection with the tractor or motor whereby the machine is traversed and with the bucket operating mechanism mounted on the standard. t

The present invention has for its object the provision of improved and simplified means or machinery for carrying into effect the invention described and claimed in saidpatent. v

The invention resides primarily in the herei'nafter described improved or modified means or mechanism mounted onthe traversable frame structure of the machine, andcontrolled through themedium of the. reciprocable member of the draw-bar-mechanism, for effecting the lowering, 3'0

raising and lateralim'otionso-f the scoopor bucket and in the co-operating means or mechanism whereby the scoop or bucket is tractively connected with the said draw-bar mechanism, and

its turning into the. position for discharging refuse or material, gathered thereby is controlled.

The invention further resides in certain other improvements in or additions to the machine hereinafter described and in the machine as a whole.

The invention willnow be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: V V

Figure 1 represents in sideelevation means or machinery for the purpose specified and embodying improvements or additions in accordance with-the present invention, the partsof the machine which control the motions and operation. of the scoop or bucket being shown in the'positions which they respectively occupy when the said scoop or bucket is lowered tov the position for; collecting; onthe forward traversing of the machine, a load of earth or rubbish to be removed 7 from the excavation or ditch whereon the machine isrperformings itsoperations. 5:5

Figure 2 is a plan of the same with some parts omitted or partly broken away.

Figure 3 represents in side elevation the scoop or bucket detached from the machine, with the adjoining parts of the arm or member whereby.

it is tractively' connected with the draw-bar mechanism and the associated means whereby it is retained in the normal'po'sition, in which it is shown, relative to the said tractive arm while the gathering "or' excavating operation is being performed and released at the appropriate time to permit it to turn into the discharging position.

Figure 4 is a plan of the 'said' parts of the machine.

Figures 5 and 6 represent in side elevation fragmentary parts of the machine hereinafter more particularly referred to. v Figures 3 to 6 both inclusive are drawn to'a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2, which are somewhat diagrammatic owing to the small scale imposed by the limitation of the size of the sheets.

The same numerals of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invention represented the reference 8, Figures 1 and 2, denotes the longitudinally extending tubular member of the draw-bar mechanism which member is incorporated in and forms part of the fixed frame structure of the machine, and 9 denotes the catch controlled reciprocable member or component which is disposed therein and through the medium of whichthe requisite lowering, raising and lateral motions of the bucket are effected, the said reciprocable member being adapted, as in the patent aforesaid; for connection at its forwardly presented end with a tractor or motor whereby the machine is traversed and its rear endhaving connection. through a flexible cable H) with the mechanism from which the bucket H is suspended and which is mounted on a rear fixed part of the frame structure of the machine, the" said frame structure embodying the aforesaid longitudinally extending tubular member 8, the horizontal bars 12, li of 'H" or girder formation in cross section and: to which bars the. rearward part of the tubular member 8 is fixed, and the mast or standard is which may conveniently be formed from a single bar of H section, the lower end of thesaid standard being located and fixed in a rearwardly extending part of the tubular The standard I3 is connected by a bracing rod It to the fixed. longitudinal member 8' and by the rods 13* and I? to the horizontal bars l2 and I2 respectively, the upper ends of the rods having connection with lugs on a bracket I3 provided at the upper end of the standard.

The fixed rear par-t aforesaid of the frame structure is supported at any desired height above ground level by a skid or runner denoted generally by the reference I4 and which is rockably mounted on the lower end of a vertical stem I 4 'of angular section and which is adapted to be clamped to a seating constituted by an L or angle bar I2 fixed to the end of the horizontal bar I2 and the ends of two inclined rods I2, I2 the other ends whereof are fixed to the bar I2, the said rods in addition to serving to carry the angle bar also serving as a bracing between the bars I2 and I2 The angle bar I2 carried by the bar I2 and rods IT, I 2 has fixed thereto one-half part I5 of each of a pair of clamps I5, I5 the other and loose parts I5 of which are secured to the fixed parts I5 by bolts and nuts, the said clamping members co-operating to grip the stem H of the skid in the position to which it is adjusted for regulating the height at which the rear part of the draw-bar and the parts of the frame structure associated therewith are supported above ground level. The two parts denoted by the references I5 are bars placed against the sides of the stem I I opposite the sides embraced by the fixed angle bar I2 to pack the space between the sides against which they are placed and the loose parts I5 of the clamps to take the bearing of said parts I5 when the bolts by which they are secured to the fixed parts I5 of the clamps are tightened up.

The mechanism mounted on the standard or rear part of the frame structure of the machine and whereby the requisite lowering, raising and lateral motions of the scoop or bucket II are effected through the medium of the reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar mechanism associated with the standard, embodie a derrick or jib I6 which has a universal joint connection with the lower part or base structure of the machine, the said universal joint which is indicated at I6 being disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the reciprocable member 9 of the drawbar, and conveniently having its swivelling bearings provided in or on a block secured to an extension of the rear end of the fixed longitudinal member 8 of the draw-bar.

The said derrick or jib I6 which is preferably built up from lengths of tubing as shown is connected to the adjacent end of the reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar mechanism through the medium of the aforesaid flexible cable I I] or a chain, one end of which is attached to the rear end of the said reciprocable member 9 its other end being connected in any suitable manner to the derrick I6 at a convenient point intermediate the pivoted and free ends thereof, the said cable I9 passing to its connection with the derrick below a guide pulley II suitably mounted on the frame structure adjacent the lower part of the standard, as for example on a spindle Il supported in bearings provided on the fixed longitudinal member 8, and passing thence upwardly and over a guide pulley I8 having a swivelling or castor-like connection with a socket on the standard at or adjacent the upper end thereof.

It will be appreciated that when the reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar moves in a rearward direction in the operating of the machine the slackening of the flexible cable I9 allows the derrick I B to turn downwardy while motion of the said reciprocable member in the forward direction effects the upward turning of the said derrick.

The scoop or bucket I I is connected to the free end of the derrick I6 by a flexible cable or chain II the bucket being furnished for this purpose at or adjacent its rear end with a yoke-like member II to the middle part whereof the cable or chain is attached, the ends of the respective arms or branches of the yoke I I having a trunnion or pivotal connection with the respective sides of the bucket so that the bucket can swing freely in the yoke.

The bucket II also has a pivotal connection at or adjacent its front upper corners with an arm I9 whereby it is tractively connected to a laterally extending bar or rod 29 at the front end of the base structure of the machine and constituting a part of a triangulated frame structure built from tubing and which supports parts hereinafter more particularly referred to, the said rod 29 and the rod 29 of this structure preferably having a pivotal connection with the fixed longitudinal member 8 of the draw-bar so as to permit the frame structure to be turned into a more or less vertical position as in the case of the similar parts in the aforesaid patent.

The said tractive arm I9 is conveniently constituted by two parts of rods or tubes interconnected by lattice bracing each pair terminating at the rear end thereof in a member I9 of triangular formation the said triangular parts being disposed respectively on the opposite sides of the bucket II and their rearward ends having pivotal connection with trunnion pins II provided on the bucket. One of the parts I9 namely that at the lower side of the plan Figure 4 is omitted from Figure 3.

The pairs of rods constituting the tractive arm 40 I9 converge relative to each other in a forward direction so that their front ends come together and terminate in a socket or, on a plate I 9 which has a universal joint connection denoted by the reference 2i with the aforesaid laterally extending rod 20 at the front end of the base structure,

Dogs or catches 22 are provided in association with the bucket I I for retaining it in the desired position relative to the tractive arm I9 while the bucket is performing its operation on the ditch and until it has been raised and swung laterally to the position at which it is to discharge its contents while the machine is allowed to remain stationary by the appropriate operation of the catch 23 controlling the'reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar as described in said patent.

The dogs 22 may be constituted by shouldered blocks pivotally mounted as at 22 on the lower sides of the respective triangular parts I9 between which the bucket is pivoted on the tractive arm and interconnected by a transverse rod 22* to ensure their simultaneous operation, the shouldered parts of the said blocks co-acting with projections II suitably located on the respective sides of the bucket II.

To provide for an adjustable setting of the said projections II relative to the bucket, for varying the inclination of the bucket on the arm I9 in accordance with the depth of cut to be eifected, the projections may be formed on plate-like parts II mounted and adapted for angular motion on the aforesaid trunnion pins I I the said plate-like parts being furnished with a plurality of holes II one or other of which can be brought into coincidence with a co-acting hole in the adjoining side of the bucket, a pin tractive arm .or: boltrbeing passedthroughthe coincidentholes for fixing theebucket'ln the adjusted position relative to the. plate-like part.-

The automatic: release of, they dogs or catches 22 atthe requisite time in the sequence of; operations is effected through the medium of; a rod which has operative connection at itsrearward end through arms 24*. with the ,rod 22! carrying the dogs, the, said rod. 24fextending longitudinally between the. rods formin v the I9 its forward end being connected to an arm of a double-armedlever; 25, under spring; control, mounted on the connection' of the front end of; the tractive armwith the rod 20 of the forwardpart of the base structure of the machine. l I

I, The other arm of the saidrlever is attached by a flexible cable or chain, 26 to a convenient anchorage' on the frame structure such, as the rod 20 and this flexiblecable or chain remains slack,

during the raising and lateral swinging, of the bucket. until the bucket closely approaches the position for discharging its contents when the chain becomes taut thereby arresting the turnthe rod 2i} by passing itthrough ahole-or bean ing in an upwardly projecting arm or bracket 24* carried by across bar 24 mounted onflthe lower tubular meinbersfof the tractive arm IS, a spring 24 in. compression, being disposed on the said rod between the bracket 24 andja boss at the junction of the rod 24 with the arms 24, the said spring servingto maintain the dogs 22 in engagement with the projections ll on the respective sides of the bucket II.

For the purpose of' regulating the depth of the cut to be performed by the bucket the tractive arm l9 has,. or may have, thereon a bent or curved bar 2'1, omitted from the plan views Figures 2 and 4, which bar depends below the arm in the middle plane thereof, its forward end having a pivotal connection 2! with the armiand its rearward end which is adjacent the bucket it having an upwardly" projecting branch '21 which is furnished with a plurality of holes the'front end of the bucket H for closing the said front end while the bucket is being raised and swung into the discharging position, the said cowl being so shaped and pivotally mounted on the bucket, as for example by'the connection of side arm's 28 provided thereon with the aforesaid trunnions l I on the bucket; as automatically to turn upwardly intoan open position when the bucket is performing a cutting or gathering operation and to resume a closingposition while the'bucket is being lifted prior to discharging its contents. I I

The frontof the cowl. 28.10:: a web 283 provided thereon, is connected by a chain 29' to a con:- venient. part ofor. on theltra'ctive arm l9, a hook 21 provided on theaforesaid cross bar 24 affording; a: suitable connection, and when the bucket on its arrival at] thev position for discharging its, contents and on the disengagement of the dogs. 2,2,from the projections II thereon, turns into: thedischarging position, the chain 29,

operates to check-the cowl from following the downward tilt of the bucket and consequently the front end of the bucket isopened to allow the contentsgto fall therefrom. r

The web 28? where-such is provided, as is preferable-,-isfurnished with lateral webs or flanges 280 on: its inclined front edge to give a flat acting face to the said web;

A seat 310 for'theperson operating the. machine, who sits backwards to the direction of motion, is provided at the forward part of the machine, and may be supported on a rod or standard 30 fixed on the laterally extending member 20 of the triangulated frame structure. the said standard being furnished at its upper end with a, box-like or tubular part' 30 with which a bent metal bar 30 carrying the seat 30 and a back rest 30 has a springloaded or dashpot-like connection. v

- The forward part of the base structure is supported at the desired height above ground level ."by a. skid or runner 3| preferably rockably member 9' of the draw-bar, and also means for effecting a steering control of thelateralv thrust resisting flanged wheel 3.3 which is provided at or adjacent the rear corner. of the baseof the machine on the side thereofremote from the ditch are provided on the machine in positions adjacent the seat 30 and convenientfor operation by the attendant.

'I-hemeans providedfor actuating the said, catch 23 may be; adapted for, hand operation, but preferably as is illustrated in the drawings pedal oper ated means are employed, the said means embodying the pedal 34 (seeFigure 2) carried by a lever 31 fulcrumed on a spindle 34 supported inbearings-in depending lugs provided on a rod Zilhincorporatyradin the frame structure and on a parallel bar member 35 the respective ends of which are attached to the said rod 20 and to a bracing rodforstrut 20 of the frame structure, the said lever- 1M? being under the control of a spring 36, anchored thereto and to a convenient part of the base such'as the aforesaidstrut 20, the spring acting to maintain the pedal in its normal position and return itthereto after, its operation.

The pedal 34: has connection through a universal joint 34 with one end of a rod 31' (see Fig. 2) formed of a plurality of tubular sections adapted; to telescope relative to each other, but of such ,cross sectional figure, as for example square, that they turn as one, the other end of the said rod 31 being likewise jointed as at 31 to an arm l3 pivoted on the fixed longitudinal member 8 of the draw-bar mechanism, and on downward pressure on the pedal the telescopingsections of the arm 31- extend sufiicientl'y to permit this motion at thesame time serving to transmit an upward turning motion to the arm 23*. The arm 23 as will be best understood by an examination of the fragmentary view shown in side elevation in Figure 5, has connection through the medium of slotted links 23 with an arm of a bell-crank lever 23, pivotally mounted on the longitudinal member 8, the pivot of this mounting having at its end opposite to that whereon the bell-crank lever is fixed an arm 23 between which end the forwardly extending arm of the bell-crank lever the controlling catch 23 is mounted.

The bell-crank lever 23 is'under the control of aspring 38 which tends to maintain the catch 23 in the locking position, from which it canbe withdrawn at the appropriate times by a downward pressure of the foot on the pedal 34, and when this pressure is relieved the parts return to the position in which the catch 23 can enter into engagement with one or other of the notches or other co-acting parts provided in the reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar mechanism as will be well understood, and for the purpose described in the aforesaid patent.

The lateral thrust resistin wheel 33 is mounted on the inclined lower end of a stub axle or spindle 33 fitting in a vertical socket 33 welded or otherwise fixed to the member I 2 of the base structure and a steering operation of this wheel may be effected by the provision on the upper end of the axle or spindle 33 of a bar 33 the respective ends of which are connected to the ends of a chain 39 which passes around a sprocket wheel 40 on a hand wheel operated steering column 4| mounted on the base frame structure in proximity to the attendants seat a convenient mounting for the said column being afforded by the platform 42 (see Figure 2) provided on the base structure and which serves the further purpose of a foot rest for the attendant.

Only that portion of the chain 39 which passes round and is adjacent the sprocket wheel need be of the construction requisite for operative engagement by the teeth of the said wheel, the remaining and major part of the chain being of ordinary link formation.

Flexible cables or chains 43, 44 are, or may be, provided to cooperate in checkin or steadying the movements and obviating the lateral overswinging of the derrick or jib IS, the chain 43 being attached at one end to a convenient part on the jib and at its other end to a, fixed part of the frame structure as for example to an inclined spar-like member 45 which i fixed at its lower end to the bar I2 of the base structure, its upper end being braced by wires or rods 45 and 45 respectively to the bracket [3 at the upper end of the standard l3 and to the flange on the lower end of the vertical socket 33 provided on the frame structure as aforesaid. The chain 44 has connection at one end to the chain 43, intermediate the. ends thereof and at its other end to an arm of a check lever 44* pivoted as at 44 to the standard l3 the other arm of the said lever being under the action of a spring such as 44.

As stated, the chain 43 prevents lateral overswinging of the jib l6, and it will be appreciated that on lateral outward swinging of the tractive arm 19 there is a liability to a sudden snatch on the said chain 43. The chain 44 co-acts with the chain 43 to obviate this liability and does so by sharing the pull or strain imposed on the chain 13, any tendency to snatch being absorbed by the connection of the chain 44 with the check lever 44 and the damping 0r cushioning action of the spring 44 associated with the said lever.

A sprag device may be provided on the machine to arrest its motion in the eventof any tendency to over running or skidding which may arise especially when workin on clayey or heavy and wet ground, the said device, as is represented in the plan view Figure 2, and in side elevation, slightly modified, in the fragmentary view Figure 6, comprising two pointed spade-like parts 46 disposed at the corners of the front end of a frame-like member 43 mounted on a spindle 46 the bearings of which are formed in lugs on the forward ends of ribs l4 provided on the upper face of the skid or runner [4, the framelike member being furnished with a rearwardly extending arm 46 having thereon a counterbalance weight 46 acting to maintain the sprag in the out of action position, the operation of the sprag for bringing it into its actin position when desired being effected through the medium of a rope or cable 41 one end of which is attached to the end of the arm 46, its other end being brought to a suitable location on the machine for permitting its operation by the occupant of the seat 30.

Bufier springs (not shown) may be provided between the connection of the reciprocable member 9 of the draw-bar mechanism with the tractor the said springs being located in a casing 9 interposed between the said reciprocable member and the member 9* associated therewith for effecting its connection with the tractor or motor and being designed tooperate in both directions of motion of the connected parts.

The various chain or flexible cable connections hereinbefore referred to may where desirable be adapted for an adjustable attachment to the parts with which they are connected.

Means, not shown, and operable through the medium of the tractor, may be incorporated with the machine for facilitating the hoisting of the rods 20 and 2t) and certain parts carried thereby into the vertical position when it is desired to economise space in the storage of the machine, or when it is being traversed from one locality to another.

The manner in which the improved machine described is used and operated for the purposes for which it is designed differs in no material respect from the manner of use and operation of the machine described in the aforesaid patent, and hence no further description is deemed nec essary herein.

What I claim is: a

1. In a machine for clearing or excavating ditches, the combination of a traversable frame having a member extending laterally thereof, a jib pivotally connected to the frame, means for swinging the jib upwardly and downwardly, a bucket connected to the jib and adapted to occupy a position behind said frame member While the jib is in lowered position, a tractive arm pivotally connected at one end to said laterally extending frame member and pivotally connected at its other end to the bucket for tilting motion of the bucket on a substantially horizontal axis for discharging of material gathered thereby, means for holding the bucket in a position relatively to the tractive arm for clearing or gathering operation, and means controlled by the swing of said jib and tractive arm for releasing said holding means automatically.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said bucket holding means comprises cooperating catch members on the bucket and tractive arm, respectively.

frame and actuated by swinging movement of the tractive member for disengagement automatically from the catch member on the bucket.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said bucket holding' means comprises a catch member mounted adjustably on the bucket for holding the bucket at different angles of tilt on its pivot, and a cooperating catch member pivoted on the tractive arm and having means connecting it to the frame of the machine whereby swinging movement of the tractive armretracts it automatically from the catch member on the bucket.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the bucket is suspended from the jib by a flexible member, and said tractive arm is connected to said laterally extending frame member by a, universal joint.

6. In amachine for clearing or excavating ditches, the combination of a traversable frame. a jib having a pivotal connection with the frame, a bucketsuspended from the jib for removing material from a ditch, cable means connected to the jib for effecting raising and lowerin and lateral movements of the bucket, and jib controlling means for steadying and preventing lateral over swinging of the jib comprising a chain connected at one end to the jib and at its other end to a fixed part of the frame, a second chain connected at one end to the first mentioned chain at a point between its ends and extending transversely thereto, and a spring controlled check lever' mounted on the frame and connected to the other end of said second chain.

DOUGLAS RAYMOND BOMFORD. 

